Club Obi Wan

Greetings all!
Just taking this opportunity to introduce myself to the group and let everyone know that after lurking over several months, I took the excellent advice gleaned here and ordered myself a Wested Raiders model in authentic lambskin back on April 30th. After a bit of a false start due to Gemma's first two emails going missing, communications were finally established and now I'm waiting eagerly for her to inform me that my jacket is ready to ship.

I wasn't really planning on it, but the "Indy Mania" seems to have taken hold and earlier this week I also had her add a shirt to my order.

I feel another collecting obsession taking root!

Cheers!

let me start by saying welcome aboard and congrats on your wested oreder. I have my Wested raiders lamb now for a year and a half and just love it. Don't forget to post some pics ( we like pics ). I like to know what you think of the shirt when you get it.

Welcome aboard! And I know you'll love your Wested

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome.

I'm replacing a Willis & Geiger horsehide A2 that I bought years back when I worked in one of the retail stores they had at one time. I wanted something a little different, so I ordered an original screen spec jacket from the first film in authentic lambskin with a cotton body/satin sleeve lining, brass zip and D ring adjusters. I didn't ask for an extra inside pocket or gussets, but I may get "fancy" if I decide to get another one later (especially if he's still offering horsehide!) depending on how I like the fit of this one.

Of course, I'm going through the same nervousness that I've seen coming from others as to whether I got the sizing right, but I'm pretty confident about what my sizes are, so i'm hoping I'm just having first time jitters with a new vendor.

I am also a sort of in-between size...a 46L fits well for a suit, but for a jacket, I need just a tad bit more room, and that's what Peter gave me. I don't know if he actually cuts an in between size (as patterned), but I'm sure they know how to add a bit of room to any given size for some breathing room. One thing I was worried about on my TOD horsehide was whether I should get gussetts. I wanted good movement but didn't like the look of them. Every "off the shelf" jacket I own I had to upsize to get proper arm movement and sleeve length, but it leaves a huge volume under the arm. Not so with the Wested - the armpit is quite high on the jacket, and it gives good movement - that combined with the tad bit of extra chest room makes for a very comfy jacket.

Baggers, welcome to Club Obi Wan.

Congratulations on ordering the jacket. It truly is a great piece of clothing, and you really won't want to take it off.

Welcome Baggers, I will be getting my authentic Lamb Raiders very soon aswell, after owning my Last crusade for three years I know i'ts the only leather jacket I will ever want or need.

Welcome baggers, and hope you enjoy that jacket!

UPDATE:
I got an email this morning from Gemma that my jacket and shirt would be ready to ship on Friday. Yee Hawww!

Needless to say "I am as happy as a little girl!" (That last needs to be said in your best "Deiter" voice.)

Cheers!

I hear you Pagey. I'm tempted to order my next Wested without (or minimal) the facing along the inside of the zipper. I personally think it effects the drape and makes the front of the jacket stiffer. Besides the movie jacket didn't have it.

the leather facing along the inside of the zipper is a Modification I agree on, it just makes the Jacket more secure.

UPDATE:

WOW, I wasn't expecting this...
For those of you outside the U.S., today is a national holiday which means that government offices are closed and the postal service isn't delivering mail.

I just got back from running a couple of errands and found that the USPS had attempted to deliver an Express Mail parcel from the UK. They left a slip in the mailbox informing me that I can pick it up tomorrow. Evidently Wested's delivery service turns into Express Mail when it hits the States!

Also, the slip didn't indicate any money owing, so I obviously dodged Customs!

Well, I now have one heck of a reason to not sleep in tomorrow!

Cheers!

Yup, mine came express mail too. I was hanging some drapes for my mom one morning about 11 a.m. when the doorbell rang. It was the USPS with my Wested. I told her I was surprised to see her so early. The mail doesn't usually come until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. She told me that when they were supposed to deliver express packages as soon as they could.

P.S. All I had to do was sign for it. I never had any custom charges.

Yeah, I'm a bit excited to say the least. I never imagined that the UK's Parcel Force (or whatever Wested uses) would arrive as Express mail here domestically. I figured the best it would rate is Priority Mail. I'll be down at the PO first thing in the morning.

And with all the stuff I've bought over the years from there in my collecting Brit Militaria, I actually can't recall the last time I had to pay any duty fees. After all that time though, I figured I was overdue for a small hit, especially after reading that some folks had had to pony up for theirs. I guess I lucked out again. It really does seem to be hit and miss.

Don't worry, My review and hopefully some pictures will be up on the forum sometime tomorrow. I'll also hopefully have some reactions from other people by Thursday, since I'll be taking it with me to the studio on Wednesday to show it off.

Cheers!

I went down to the post office this morning and picked up my parcel. I got home, ripped it open and found a thing of beauty inside.

Bottom line, the construction of the jacket is excellent and the fit is perfect. It turned out just exactly the way I wanted. If there's anybody out there wondering if their jacket will turn out all right when they get it, have no fear. Wested will not disappoint you.

Pictures will follow in a day or two. I apologize for the brief post, but I wanted everyone to know the final outcome. My review of the shirt will be posted later this week in the gear forum. Please excuse me now, I want to spend some more time with my new addition to the wardrobe...

Now all I need is my AdventureBilt from Fedora. Dang, more waiting!

Cheers!